Crooked Cat Publishing

It’s an independent Edinburgh-based
publisher run by husband and wife team, Laurence and Steph Patterson. Between
them, they have years of experience in writing, manuscript editing, reviewing
and critiquing and marketing.

My first book, Tomorrow’s
Anecdote, a 1980s newsroom mystery set against the backdrop of Thatcherism,
found a home there. The story was more autobiographical than you might think,
and I was soon thanking my lucky stars to find a publisher with a hands-on yet sensitive
approach.

(Note: the rest of this piece is going to sound like an Oscars speech, but I don't care.)

Although originally an
epublisher, Crooked Cat now busily distributes its growing collection of books in various genres in
electronic and paperback formats to all manner of mainstream sites, including Amazon
and Barnes & Noble. Extended ebook distribution goes out to Sony and Apple,
while titles are also available to purchase and download in three different
formats at the Crooked Cat Books website. Dark thrillers are a strong point and
I hoped that my father’s edgy 1970s thriller would appeal.

A key factor was that paperback
versions of CC releases are also available for trade purchase. My aim was to be
able to publish my father’s book – and send my stepmother Maggie her own copy
of Not With A Whimper, with my Dad’s name in very big letters on the front. To
my continued astonishment, this is actually happening.

So, I submitted the first three
chapters and they seemed to go down well. After Laurence invited me to send the
full manuscript, it was a nail-biting time. Happily, I didn’t have to wait
long. When I read the email of acceptance, I laughed and cried at the same
time, while doing a silly dance in the kitchen. The dogs thought I had gone
quite mad.

Soon after, I was introduced
(electronically) to an experienced editor, which was a boost, for up to that
point, the whole responsibility had been mine. It was also entertaining and Simon
and I quickly developed a lively working relationship. After this, the design
process was a great experience. Laurence had some fantastic ideas and suggested
that the cover had to be ‘retro’ to a certain extent, for the book was written
during the Cold War, but that it needed a modern twist to appeal to a
contemporary audience. The end result is a triumph of both and I couldn’t be
more pleased. It has CC’s trademark gloss and sophistication and passes my
personal test of being to look great on an airport bookstand.

Another reason for selecting CC
was the online writers' circle and over the past few months I’ve been extremely grateful
for their advice, humour and encouragement. I’m lucky enough to have met
several CC authors in the flesh (as well as Laurence and Stephanie who are even
more delightful in person), and I’m looking forward to meeting even more soon. Crooked Cat's enlightened approach to this funny old business is infectious and quite modern,
and the lines of communication are just excellent. I love seeing CC authors
being represented in the various literary awards and get a thrill when CC titles
whiz up the Amazon charts.

On behalf of my father, who would have relished this
experience, I wish Laurence and Steph and all the CC authors continued inspiration and success.